Lawn-grooving machine



. 1,644,068 @ct 4, 1927- D. A. MCBRIDE LAWN GROOVING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1924 DAVID A. MCBRIDE Bi Mgm A TTORNE Y.

6%? INVENTOR.

shaft Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES DAVID A. [03311)], or mm, more.

nawn-eaoovmc momma.

Application filed mm :0, 1m. lerlal Io. man;

My invention relates to an improved construction of machine for rooving lawns alon the edges of side walls, curb stones,

etc., 1n a manner to insure a uniform width and depth of groove so that a pleaslng, appearance is produced.

My machine consists essentla-lly of a base readily movable along the walk or curb adjacent to which the groove in the lawn is to be made, which base carries arotary cutter and a motor for drivin the same, so that as the machine is moved a ong the walk or curb the cutter may be revolved at a relatively high speed and, independently of the rate of motion of the machine on the walk or curb, cut the groove in the lawn and at the same time throw the turf and dirt cut from the groove outwardly and away from the groove. My machine is also provlded with mechanism for'raising the revolvable cutter sufliciently to clear the surface over which the machine is moved, so that the machine may readily be transferred from one location to another without engagement between the cutter and the walk or other surface being assed over by the machine. The adjustmg devices also provide a convenient means for determining the depth of the groove that is cut by the machine when in use.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in whichp Fig. 1 shows the machine in' plan v ew,

Fig. 2 shows the machine in side elevation,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of the machine taken along the line 33 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a bottom v1ew to an enlarged scale of the rear supporting rollers of the machine, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the cutter driving devices, taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

' Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, my machine consists of a base provided with front supportin wheels 11 and 12 and rear suporting w eels 13, 14 and 15 by which the base is supported at a desired distance above the walk or other surface over which the machine is moved. A handle 16 is secured at. its forward end to the front end of the base 10 as indicated at 17, and is held in convenient elevated posit10n at its rear end by braces 18 and 19 which also serve to rigidly secure the rear portion of the handle to the base so that the machine may readily be gmded by the handle. v

The base 10 carries at its rear end in suitable bearings a transversely extending shaft 20 on one end of which a disk 21 is rigidly secured, said disk in turn ri 'dly supporting a plurality of cuttingEbla cs 22 extending radially therefrom. ach of the cutting blades 22 is bent at its outer end to extend substantially parallel with the shaft 20 so that the blades when they are rotated will out both the side and bottom of the desired groove in the lawn. The blades are preferably made from tempered steel and sharpened to facilitate the cutting operation. The other end of the shaft 20 carries a sprocket wheel 23 engaged by a driving ain 24 which is also in engagement with a sprocket wheel 25 carried b the shaft of a motor 26 suitably supporte above the base 10 by a bracket 27. Any suitable type of motor may be used, for example an electric motor or an internal combustion motor. The base 10 and the bracket 27 are preferably made of metal, although I do not limit myself to any particular material in con;

structing these parts of the machine. Frictional driving engagement is secured between the sprocket wheel 23 and the shaft 20 by a construction shown in sectional view in Fig. 5. This consists of a metal disk 49 rigidly secured to said shaft, engaged by a loose disk 50 of fibre or similar material, the other face of which engages a corresponding surface on the sprocket wheel 23, which is otherwise free to turn on the shaft 20. A spring 51 held in compressed condition by a collar 52 on the shaft 20 affords a ready means for producing any desired degree of friction between the disk 50 and the surfaces it engages. In this manner I protect the motor from undue overload if for any reason rotation of the cuttin blades is suddenly stopped, by adjusting t e driving friction to an amount but slightly in excess of the effort required to cut the turf and dirt from the groove being made, this also serving to reduce the strain on the machine, when, for any reason, its operation is suddenl prevented while the motor is running, or example by the cutting blades striking a stone or other obstruction.

Between the disk 21 and the ed e of the base 10 I mount a shield a d do peter 28 to catch and deflect the dirt and turf cut by the machine and throw them outwardly onto the lawn the edge of which is bemg grooved. Within the shield 28 I pivotally mount a guide bar 29 on the shield as indicated at 30, so that when the machine is in use the lower end of the uide bar will move along the edge of the we k or curb ad acent which the groove in the lawn is being made, and prevents the revolving cutters from coming in contact with the walk or curb. When the cutter is not being operated and it is desired to move the machine from one location to another, the guide bar 29 ma be swung on its pivot to the position indicated in dotted lines at 29". I also provide a second guide bar 31 on the front end of the machine, said uide bar being pivotally connected to the edge of the base at 32 and having its upper end pivotally connected by a pitman 33 with a crank 34 rigidly secured to the end of the shaft 20 projecting slightly beyond the disk 21. This construction is desirable to assist in loosening the turf and a dirt adjacent the edge of the walk or curb by the rapid vibration of the guide bar 31 as the machine is moved along; the uide bar 31 thus not only serves as a means or properly directing the front end of the machine so that the groove will be properly cut by the revolving cutters, but also serves to cut the dirt and turf along the edge of the walk or curb and thus prepare the same for ready removal by the revolving cutters as the machine is moved along the walk or curb.

The rear supporting wheels 13, 14 and 15 are rigidly secured to a transverse shaft 35 supported in a recess formed therefor in the bottom of the base 10, by bent arms 36, 36 which in turn are rigidly secured to an adjusting shaft 37 mounted in suitablebearings carried by the top of the base 10. The shaft 37 also has rigidly secured thereto an adjusting lever 38 adjacent a segment 39 carried by the base and provided with notches 40 in its edge to receive a latch 41 connected with the lever 38. The latch 41 is pivotally connected with an operating rod 42 connected at its upper end with an operating member 43 pivotally secured to the lever 38 adjacent the handle 38 thereof. A spring 44 is provided between the member 43 and the lever 38 to hold'the rod 42 and the latch 41 in their lowermost position, thus retaining the latch in any desired one of the notches 40. As a result of the construction just described, when the latch 41 is released from the notches 40, movement of the lever 38- raises or lowers the wheels 13, 1'4 and 15 as desired so that the rear end of the base and the revolving cutters may either be raised to clear the surface over which the machine is being moved or lowered so that the revolving cutters will out a desired depth of groove. The relation of the adjusting depivotallyvices just described is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. 4

When the machine is being used one walk, to roove the lawn adjacent the ed of'the wal the wheels 11, 13 and 15 are e ective in supporting the base in desired osition above the surface of the walk indicated by the broken line 45-45 in Fig. 2, the dividing line between the edge of lawn being indicated in Fi 1 by the broken line 46-46. When it is desired to use the machine to cut a groove in a lawn adjacent a curb, the wheel 12 becomes effective in supporting the front end of the machine and then wheels 14 and 15 serve to support the rear end of the machine in proper position vertically. To provide for using the machine on different widths of curbs, I find it desirable to have the wheel 14 adjustable'on the shaft 35 and this is conveniently accomplished by the construction shown in Fig. 4, in which the wheels 13, 14 and 15 are shown as secured to the shaft 35 by means of set screws, although it will be understood that I may use any equivalent retaining devices. All that isrequired to adjust the wheel 14 to any position relatively to the wheel 15 is to release its set screw and move the wheel 14 longitudinally on the shaft 35 and then tighten its set screw to again secure it to the shaft. As indicated in Fig. 4, a collar 47 is employed on the shaft 35 to prevent longitudinal motion of the shaft through the supporting arms 36, 36.

The end connections of the conveniently be held in place pins or equivalent devices as cilitating the ready disengagement of the pitman at one of its ends when the machine 18 to be moved from one location to another without operation of the revolving cutters, for which condition the guide bar 31 may be moved to a horizontal osition so as to clear the surface over Wll-lCl the machine is to be moved. A sto pin 48 projects from the shield 28 to retain the guide bar 29 in vertical position when the cutters are in operation as described.

The cutting of edge grooves in lawns along side walks and curb stones is a general practice for the purpose of giving a pleasing appearance to lawns, and with devices heretofore used for accomplishing. this urpose it is well known that it has been ifiioult to secure uniform results both as to the width and depth of these grooves. With my machine the rooves are made of uniform width and deptfi throughout for any particular setting of the ad usting lever and furthermore as a result of the rapid rotation of the cutting blades, a clean cut edge is made in the lawn at the edge of the groove. In this way a most effective appearance is produced. It will be observed that as a result of the rear g de bar 31 eing clo e o the shaf 20 carthe walk and the 1 indicated, fa-

ra ing the revolvable cutters, the machine and t e cutters may be made to accurately follow the edge of a walk or curb, whatever may be its shape, whether straight or curved in either direction.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construction as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of gagement between said cutter and a walk or curb along the edge of which a groove is being made.

2. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, Wheels carried by said base for supporting it for movement at a desired height above a supporting surface, a

rotary grooving cutter carried by said base and adapted to project a desired distance below said supporting surface, a motor carried by, said base for driving said cutter, a guide bar carried by said base for preventing engagement between said cutter and a walk or curb along the edge of which a groove is being made, said guide bar being adjacent said cutter, a second guide bar in front of said first mentioned guide bar, and means for vibrating said second guide bar by rotation of. said motor.

3. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base. wheels carried by said base for supporting it for movement at a desired height above a supporting surface, a rotary grooving cutter carried by raid base and adapted to project a desired distance below said supporting surface. a motor carried bv said base for driving said cutter, devices for raising and lowering said cutter relatively tosaid supporting surface as desired, and a guide bar carried by said base for preventing engagement between said cutter and a walk or curb along the edge of which a groove is being made.

In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, wheels carried by said base for supporting it for movement at a desired height above a supporting surface, a rotary grooving'cutter carried by said base and adapted to project a desired distance below said supporting surface, a motor carried by said base for driving said cutter, devices for raising and lowering said cutter relatively to said supporting surface as desired, a'guide bar carried-by said base for preventin engagement between said cutter and a wa k or curb along the edge of which a groove is being made, said guide bar being 4( jacent said cutter, a second guide bar in front of said first mentioned guide bar, and means for vibrating said second guide bar by rotation of said motor.

5. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, a rotary grooving cutter carried by one end of said base, first supporting wheels secured to said base at its said one end, a motor carried by the other end of said base, driving connections between said motor and said cutter, a second supporting -wheel secured to said base at its said other .end, a shaft on which said first wheels are mounted, supporting arms extending from said shaft, a pivotal support for said arms carried by said base, a lever secured to said arms to turn them on their support to raise 'or lower said-base as desired, devices for retaining said lever in any desired position, and a deflector for directing material removed from the cut groove away from said groove.

6. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, a rotary grooving cutter carried by one end of said base, first supporting wheels secured to said base at its said one end, a motor carried by the other end of said base. driving connections between said motor and said cutter, a second supporting wheel secured to said base at its said other end, a shaft on which said first wheels are mounted. supporting arms extending from said shaft, a pivotal support for said arms carried by said base, a lever secured to said arms to turn them on their support to raise or lower said base as desired, and devices for retaining said lever in any desired position, one of said first wheels being movable longitudinallv on said shaft depending on the width of supporting surface available to support the machine.

7. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, a rotary grooving cutter carried by one end of said base. first supporting wheels secured to said base at its said one end, a motor carried by the other end of said base, driving connections between said motor and said cutter. a second supportingwheel secured to said base at its said other end, a shaft on which said first wheels are mounted, supporting arms extending from said shaft, a pivotal support Ins for said arms carried by said base, a lever secured to said arms to turn them on their support to raise or lower said base as desired, devices for retaining said lever in any desired position, and. a shield around said cutter having a deflecting surface for directing material removed from the cut groove away from said groove.

.8. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, a rotary ooving'fcutter carried by one end of said I ase,',first su porting wheels secured to said base at 1ts said one end, a motor carried by the other end of said base, drivin connections between said motor and sai cutter, a second supporting wheel secured to said base at its sai other end, a shaft on which said first wheels are mounted, supporting arms extending from said shaft, a pivotal support for sa1d arms carried by sa1d base, a lever secured to said arms to turn them on their sup rt to raise or lower said base as, desire devices for retainin said lever in anydesired position, a guide ar ivotally connected with said base in line with the groove to' be out, a crank rotatable with said cutter, and a itman connecting said crank and said guide ar to oscillate the latter.

9. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a' base, a rota ooving cutter carried by one end. of sa1d ase, first supporting wheels secured to said base at its said'one end, a motor carried by the other end of said base, drivin connections between said motor and sai cutter, a second sup orting wheel secured to said base at its low sai sai other end, a shaft on which said first wheels are mounted, supporting arms extending from said shaft, a pivotal support for said arms carried by sa1d base, a lever secured to said arms to turn them on their sup rt to raise or lower said base as desire devices for retaining said lever in any desired position, and a guide bar connected to the-base and extending in use below the surface supporting the machine and movable when not in use above said surface.

10. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, wheels carried by 'said base for supporting it for movement at a desired heig t above a supporting surface, a rotary grooving cutter carried b said base and ada ted to project a desired istance besu porting surface, a motor carried by said ase for driving said cutter, and

a deflector for directing material removed from the cut groove away from said groove.

11. In a lawn grooving machine, the combination of a base, wheels carried by said base for supporting it for movement at a low sai desired height above a supporting surface, a I

rotary grooving cutter carried b said base and ada ted to project a desired istance besupporting surface, a motor carried b said guide ar carried by said base for preventmg engagement between said cutter and a walk or curb along the edge of which a groove is being ma c, said guide bar being adyacent said cutter, a second guide bar in front of said first mentioned guide. bar, means for vibratin said second guide bar by rotation of sai motor, and a deflector ass for driving said cutter, a

of o

for directing material removed fromthe out groove away from said groove.

12. In a lawn grooving machine, the combmation of a base, wheels carried by said base for supporting it for movement at a derotary grooving cutter carried by said base and ada ted to project a desired distance below sa-1 supporting. surface, a motor carried by said base'for driving said cutter, and a guide bar carried by sa1d base forpresired height above a supporting surface, a

venting engagement between said cutter and a walk or curb along the edge of which'a groove is beingmade, said guide bar being movable when not in use to clear the surface supporting the. machine.

13. In a lawn grooving machine, the combinatlon of abase, wheels carried by said base for su porting it for movement at a deslred heig tabove a supporting surface, a rotary grooving cutter carried b said base and adapted to project a desired istance below sa1d supportin surface, a. motor carried by said base for drlving said cutter, a guide bar carried by said base for preventin engagement between said cutter and a we or curb alon the edge of which a groove is being made, said cutter, a mcond guide bar in front of sa1d first mentioned guide bar, and means for vibrating said second guide bar by rotationof said motor, said guide bars being movable when not in use to clear the surface su porting the machine.

n witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe irgyzliname this 27th day of October, A. D.

said guide bar being adjacent. 

